Sr. Merchandise Planner
Salary

Pay for Senior Merchandise Planners in the United States sits in the ballpark of $79K annually. Residence is the biggest factor affecting pay for this group, followed by tenure. The majority of workers are highly satisfied with their job. Female Senior Merchandise Planners make up most of the survey respondents at 71 percent. Medical benefits are awarded to nearly all, and most earn dental coverage. The figures in this rundown are based on the results of PayScale's salary questionnaire.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

Job Description for Sr. Merchandise Planner

Senior merchandise planner positions are commonly available at retail stores, especially larger stores with large product volume. Many open positions do not require a specific educational background, although some do require or prefer a bachelor’s degree; at least three to five years of experience as an associate buyer, merchandise planner, or in some form of inventory control is needed as well. In addition, many companies require proficiency with basic computer programs, strong analytical and organizational skills, and excellent communication skills.

The position is based around monitoring product levels and identifying problems and opportunities related to the products being carried at the store. This involves creating regular reports on performance measures, as well as developing tools such as action plans to ensure continuous growth. Senior merchandise planners work with external product vendors and internal management to ensure that all demands are met and all plans are feasible. They work with various other departments as well, such as with advertising teams to ensure that advertised products are in stock at each location. This work also requires communication with ground-level employees who are responsible for physically maintaining the grounds.

The physical requirements for this job are limited, with only sedentary tasks such as extended periods of computer usage required. The work is generally indoors in a store or office environment. Hours may vary widely from company to company, but it is not uncommon to work during regular business hours.